Smooth move day for Meadow Lake residents
It’s big, it’s bright, and it’s now a home.
NorthWest Community Lodge, Meadow Lake’s new long-term care home, celebrated its official opening on August 25.
The home’s opening has been eagerly anticipated by many. It is now home to the residents of the former long-term care home, Northlands Pioneer Lodge, which had 53 beds.
The new home will be able to accommodate up to 72 residents when fully operational. Each resident has an individual room, as well as common areas that are large, open, and full of natural light. The lodge consists of six houses, each with its own living room and dining space.
“The Lodge is truly a home created by Saskatchewan for Saskatchewan, not only in its design but also through the financial support and commitment from the NorthWest Community Lodge Association and its supporters,” said Andrew McLetchie, Vice-President of Integrated Northern Health for the SHA at the opening ceremony.
The provincial government provided $30.5 million for the $38 million capital project. Local funding covered the remainder of the cost.
Saskatchewan Minister for Rural and Remote Health and Minister responsible for Seniors Everett Hindley joined Meadow Lake MLA Jeremy Harrison on site to celebrate the opening as well.
The opening of the Meadow Lake home, “Marks the last of 13 new or renovated long-term care homes promised by this government in 2009,” Hindley stated.
Forty-eight residents and the staff from Northlands Pioneer Lodge moved into the new lodge on August 16.
“I love it. It’s big. It’s homey, (it’s) open for the residents,” said Tammy Soar, housekeeper.
The move itself went very smoothly, reported Daphne Prete, a member of the core team preparing the lodge for the residents. She’s noticed residents have been more social since settling into the new home. “It’s so bright and cheerful… With the residents, you can really see a difference,” she noted.
The new activity room has already been a draw for residents. They’ve already hosted their first bingo night there.
One of the winners of bingo night was resident Arlene Schuler.
“To me, it’s all just wonderful,” she said of her new home. “We’ve got our own rooms, we’ve got our own dining room… and then you have the common area… where you can go for lessons and whatever they’ve got going on.”
But it’s not just the facility that makes it home, it’s the staff.
“All of our care (staff) are just wonderful. They really are,” said Schuler.
